MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
������������������ Monadnock Regional High
School Library, Swanzey, NH
Present: Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Tim Aho, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, William Felton, Karen Cota, Dixie Gurian, Marianne Mathis and Jeff Friedman. Absent: Gene White, Bruce McCulley and John Morin.�
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt., D. Hodgdon, Dir. of Curriculum, L. Biron, Business Manager and Tom Warner, Dir. of Computer Tech.� Principals: D. Mousette, D. Dahl; Asst. Principals: J. Smith and L. Bleier. Student Council Representative: B. Dahl.�
R. Marra reminded the Board of their mission to strive for the best education of every child.
1.�������� CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of January 18, 2005 Board Minutes and January 18, 2005 Non-Public Minutes. MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to approve all the minutes. SECOND: W. Felton. DISCUSSION: T. Aho prepared his correction to the minutes recorded under the Preparation for the Deliberative Session. He read a prepared statement.� Chair Marra gave the statement to the board secretary to revise the minutes of January 18.
R. Thackston felt that under the
second Public Comment Section the seminar put on by the NH Housing Finance
Authority should have included the growth of the population and the expectation
in the school population, which is projected to decline. W. Felton asked if the
extensive additions to the minutes constituted an amendment. R. Marra answered
no because the individuals were making the corrections. W. Felton commented
that the minutes were going in the direction of being maximalists.� VOTE: 7.192/1.179/2.547/0.082. Motion
passes. �
2.����� CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: C. Cardine reported that Mt. Caesar, Cutler and the High School have raised money for the Tsunami victims.
The Northern Schools Advisory Committee will be meeting on Feb. 2, 2005.
C. Cardine had a list of citizens running in the upcoming election.
The Troy School had a presentation in which the teachers were involved in order to raise money for the playground. About $11,000.00 has been raised, $20,000.00 is needed.
C. Cardine explained that there were questions on the most recent snow day. He said that they decided to close early because the southern schools in the district were experiencing heavy snow. There was a problem at Mt. Caesar and it is decided that Mt. Caesar will not be released until the regular time unless parents can be reached. C. Dreyfuss asked for the logic. C. Cardine said that when the weather is bad by the time the buses return from their high school runs to the northern and southern schools the children are released close to their normal time.� This does not happen in Swanzey. Mt. Caesar children left earlier than usual and as a result at least four students had to wait in the cold which was unacceptable. R. Thackston asked how the message is conveyed. C. Cardine said it was on the radio and if it is early enough they call parents. Bruce Tatro pointed out that they do try to call.
T. Aho commented that the representative to the Northern Schools Committee from the Sullivan Selectmen would be Michael Carney.
A. Gross commented on the Cutler Regional Basketball Team. He also commented on the great article in the paper about the Fitzwilliam Nurse.
�3.� STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: B. Dahl informed the Board that the council would be holding a dance on Feb. 11, 2005. She invited the Board to attend. She also informed the Board that the council would be having a Special Olympic fundraiser on March 25, 2005. The high school had spirit week, which the Spirit Committee put on. The event ended with a pep rally. The council is raising money for the Tsunami victims. Their goal is $2500.00, which will be matched up to $1000.00. The council received thank you notes for their holiday food donations.�
4.� School Board Committee Reports:
������� Board Committee Reports: �
1. Community Relations Committee: A. Gross informed the Board that the committee met briefly. They have decided to meet on the alternate Tuesdays of the Board Meeting at 7:00 PM. A. Gross is the new Chair and W. Felton is the V. Chair. The next meeting will be on Feb. 8, 2005 at 7:00 PM.
2. Facilities Committee: B. Tatro informed the Board that the committee met and the Board packets include the proposal for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to accept the CIP as presented by the Facilities Committee. SECOND: R. Thackston. DISCUSSION: The Board wished to thank K. Cota and C. Dreyfuss for all their hard work. W. Felton complimented the committee for providing extensive rational. W. Wright wished to congratulate the committee and would urge the passage of the motion. D. Gurian also wanted to say what a terrific job that was done and asked the Board to support the motion. VOTE: 10.109/0/.809/4.082.Motion passes. The next meeting will be on Feb. 18, 2005.
3. Finance Committee: W. Wright informed the Board that the committee did not have a quorum and he was unable to attend the meeting but the committee discussed future cuts to the budget but nothing definite. The next meeting will be on Feb. 11, 2005 at 8:00 AM in Room 49.
4. Policy Committee: W. Felton explained to the Board the report that was passed out to the Board. The two main topics of discussion were the climbing wall in Gilsum and Maintenance Bidding Procedures. The next meeting will be on Feb. 8, 2005 at 5:45 PM.
5. Ad Hoc Advisory Committee: No report.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N. Moriarty thanked K. Cota and C. Dreyfuss for a great job on the CIP. N. Moriarty commented on the Honeywell presentation that would be taking place tomorrow.
J. Carnie addressed the Board regarding the Board minutes. He criticized the Board for the lack of information for going into non-public session. C. Cardine explained that there was discussion on staff changes for 2005-2006. J. Carnie gave his opinion that R. Marra needs to follow the law and straighten out this situation. R. Marra said that the Board sealed the minutes after the vote because of the discussion of staff. R. Thackston said that traditionally the Board does resignations in non-public but he said he has no trouble taking them in public session although there is an element of discretion. R. Marra commented that the Board would work it out.
P. Bauries said that she was disappointed that the minutes just approved did not contain R. Thackston’s seminar comments in depth. She also commented that she found out at the last board meeting that the Capital Reserve could not be used for the first interest payment for the 22 classroom bond. She expressed her disappointment with the Honeywell proposal. She was not aware that the return from the State would not come until the 15-year lease was up. She asked the administration to find out the law before proposing the articles.
A. New Business: Preparation for Deliberative Session: Assignment of Articles: R. Marra explained to the Board that he would like to assign a warrant article to be moved at the Deliberative Session by Board Members. B. Tatro will move Article One. R. Marra will move Article Two but will recognize W. Wright as the person that did the negotiating with the Budget Committee. W. Wright will move Article Three [J. Friedman arrives.]
T. Aho commented that after his discussion because of the law he found out from C. Cardine that Honeywell will wait a year and move the amount of the warrant to zero. B. Tatro said that it would be important to hear the views of L. Biron on Option One. L. Biron said that he would have to go back and get the specifics on Option One. A. Gross commented that they should move ahead with Option One and get this started. J. Friedman commented that he would like to bring it to zero and look at more companies. R. Thackston said to leave the article and see what the public does. R. Thackston will move Article Four. K. Cota will move Article Five. A. Gross will move Article Six. C. Dreyfuss will move Article Seven. B. Tatro will move Article Eight. R. Thackston asked if it was straight or super majority on the petitioned articles. L. Biron answered straight. W. Felton asked if the petitioned articles will be moved by the floor. R. Marra answered yes. R. Marra said that Article Seventeen and Eighteen can be moved on Saturday. R. Marra said that the Board will meet with T. Britton at 9:00 AM in the Teacher’s Room. R. Marra asked for the audio to be available. C. Dreyfuss asked about kids being able to speak. C. Cardine said that the moderator would decide. A. Gross asked if there was child care. C. Cardine said that he was not sure but he will check on that. L. Biron said that packets for the public would be available on Friday.
State Board of Education: C. Cardine explained to the Board that 2 weeks ago the State Board of Education met at MRHS and had a great meeting and a great turnout. They gave Monadnock a lot of plugs and it was on public radio. They were very impressed by the student presentations.
Property
Liability coverage: L. Biron explained that the Local Government Center has
offered a 3 -year package with a 2% cap. It has only been raised $.30. He
explained that this is the best rate in town and would encourage the Board to
lock in for three years. MOTION: R. Thackston MOVED to accept the
3-year package as explained by L. Biron. SECOND: W. Wright. DISCUSSION:
K. Cota asked what percentage was the $.30. She is not sure that 2% is a
good percentage. VOTE: 9.789/0/.382/3.379. Motion passes.
B. Old Business: Budget foe 2005-2006: L. Biron reviewed the information contained in the packet that the Board has received and the voters at the Deliberative Session will receive. T. Aho asked if there was any feed back from Honeywell. L. Biron said that it is very long and that a lot of districts are in the same bind. A. Gross asked about the high CO2 levels on page 23. L. Biron said that a chart would be presented at the Deliberative Session. W. Felton asked if the classrooms affected were all around the district. L. Biron said that he would not say. He said that his job is to identify what needs to be done. C. Cardine commented that with the Right-to-Know law the CO2 counts would be available. R. Marra said that knowing the outcome of the Deliberative Session we will then know what direction to go with the 2005-2006 budget. K. Cota agreed that it was premature to discuss.
Middle School
Principal Selection Process Update: D. Hodgdon explained that the letters
to the committee members would be going out tomorrow. He asked for a
representative from the Board. He has received a number of applicants and will
follow the high school principal search format. The search committee will
interview candidates and make a recommendation in March. The Middle School Task
Force met last night and went through the process to establish components for a
middle school. MOTION: D. Gurian MOVED to appoint K. Cota and A.
Gross to the Middle School Principal Search Committee. SECOND: W.
Felton. VOTE: 11.621/0/03.379. Motion passes.
D. Hodgdon informed the Board that at the next meeting he would provide a district wide report card. A. Gross commented on the fact that it is a serious issue that the Middle School and the High School will have shared areas and the principals will need to work closely together. D. Hodgdon said that they are talking exactly about that. K. Dassau explained that the principal committee is meeting on Friday at 2:50 PM. They will interview six candidates. The committee will then determine finalists and schedule site-visits and arrange for the candidates to meet with the school, community, and administrative groups.
C. Curriculum Report: No report.
D. 21st
Century Report: No report.
E. Action on the Manifest: MOTION: W. Felton MOVED the manifest in the amount of $1,530,841.55. SECOND: A. Gross. VOTE: 9.321/0/2.3/3.379. Motion passes.
7. Superintendent’s Report: No report.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: P. Bauries asked if the Deliberative Session would be video taped. R. Marra said that he has asked that the sound person at least audio tape it. R. Thackston said that three 7th graders from Troy would like to help out on Saturday.
R. Thackston said that he listened to NPR and heard K. Carter and J. Carnie. He said that he was not sure they were in the same room or if it was edited but based upon what K. Carter said that $200,000.00 is the cost to the district. C. Cardine said that there were 22 students from Monadnock. R. Thackston commented that it was $9,000.00 per student. L. Biron said that it is less then the per pupil cost at the high school. R. Thackston asked if the students were brought back would the cost go up in this building. C. Cardine said that staff would go up by possible 2 or 3 teachers.
9. Board Chair Report: No
report.
10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:
1. Committees
2. Deliberative Session Discussion
3. 2005-2006 Budget
4. Curriculum District Report Card
11. 8:55 PM. W. Wright MOVED
to enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(c) - matters which, if discussed in public,
would likely adversely affect the reputation of any person. SECOND: Bruce Tatro. Roll call
vote was taken. T. Aho-yes, M. Mathis –yes, C. Dreyfuss-yes, A.
Gross-yes, W. Felton-yes, K. Cota-yes, J. Friedman-yes, D. Gurian-yes, R. Thackston-yes,
B. Tatro-yes, W. Wright-yes and R. Marra-yes. VOTE: 11.621/0/0/3.379. Motion
passes.
9:10 PM A. Gross MOVED
to return to public session. SECOND: R. Thackston. VOTE: 11.621/0/0/3.379. Motion passes.
12.
Adjournment
9:20 PM A. Gross MOVED to
adjourn. SECOND: R. Thackston. VOTE: Unanimous for those present.
Motion Passes
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary